04-03-2017 NEUAC Board Notes

Notes from the Executive Director

This week, I was invited to speak at the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) Winter Legislative Conference during a session on news from national partners. It was nice to connect with old friends from the Weatherization Assistance Program and Community Services Block Grant world – both of their worlds intersect with ours in promoting utility assistance.

 

By now you all surely have heard that the Administration’s budget proposes to eliminate the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

 

ZERO. Let’s imagine that for a moment – what would happen if LIHEAP didn’t exist?

 

The 6 million families in America who benefitted last year would not be able to count on that same support next year, and the burden to those programs left providing crisis utility assistance through fuel funds at the local level would be overwhelming.

 

We have faith that Congress and our champions will continue to value and support our programs. However, there are no guarantees.

 

We need to help our Congress understand the value of LIHEAP. NEUAC’s efforts are outlined in my message below, but a good starting point is www.SaveLIHEAP.org. Now is the time to engage.

 

Current and Timely Projects

 Dear Colleague Letter

Representatives Peter King (NY), Peter Welch (VT), Lou Barletta (PA) and Jim McGovern (MA) are circulating a letter to the Appropriations Committee supporting LIHEAP in the FY18 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill.

 

DEADLINE:  TOMORROW, April 4 

 

STAFF CONTACTS:

Isaac.loeb@mail.house.gov  (Welch),

Tim.Ursprung@mail.house.gov (King),

Mike.Cusher@mail.house.gov (McGovern), or

Emily.Ackerman@mail.house.gov (Barletta).

 

Last year, 161 U.S. Representatives signed a similar letter.  This is a good place to advocate with special diligence, as well as freshman members. See www.SaveLIHEAP.org for more information.

 

All-Parties Letter in Support of LIHEAP for FY18 – 1,071 signatures as of Friday (go to www.SaveLIHEAP.org to sign)

 

DEADLINE: Has been extended to April 14 

 

Individual Support Letter-Writing Campaign to Congress – 331 advocates have written 1,024 letters, reaching a total of 165 members of Congress as of Friday (go to www.SaveLIHEAP.org to sign)

NEUAC created a pre-drafted letter that can be signed and sent by individuals. The software automatically targets the appropriate members of Congress based on entering a home address.

 

DEADLINE: Open-ended at this time

 

NEUAC Annual Conference – Let’s fill some tote bags with goodies!

We need your promotional items to make our tote bags AWESOME this year! We plan to fill 700 bags, but please feel free to send as many or few items as you have available. In order to make our tote bags a robust display for attendees,  I encourage you to complete one of the following options today:

 

Send an email to Sue Gove at sgove@gove.org today asking her to remind you to

ship a box of items to the hotel two weeks before the conference.

Send the items to Sue Gove – 226 Paul St – Pittsburgh PA

15211

On June 20th, send to HARBOR BEACH Fort Lauderdale Marriott

3030 Holiday Drive  — Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 – Attn: Mike

Johnson/Sue Gove

 

Thank you for doing your part to make our conference successful!

 

NEUAC Annual Conference – Volunteers are still needed!

Volunteers are needed for the 2017 NEUAC conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Go here to sign up:

 

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4dafac29a3f49-neuac1

 

NEUAC Annual Conference – Registration is now OPEN! Share info and bring your friends to our conference!

Go HERE to view the conference brochure and access the registration website. More than 100 are registered so far – but we can do better than that. J Spread the word, board members!

 

Join us for Sunny Solutions for Self Sufficiency in Fort Lauderdale!

 

5/5/5 Board Member Challenge

At the board meeting, the 5/5/5 Board Member Challenge was introduced. NEUAC needs YOU to be an ambassador for our organization by completing this important mission:

 

ü  Bring 5 people to the conference (other than yourself, cannot be free registrations).

Talking points:       

Breaking information will be presented on current topics in the energy assistance world

Expanding our topical areas into water advocacy, providing a forum for discussion on current utility and fundraising topics

Location, Location, Location – FORT LAUDERDALE!

Something for everyone and our federal partners will give important updates

ü  Bring 5 new members to NEUAC (sub-grantees, co-ops, individuals, businesses).

Talking Points:

Half price membership for new members in the first year

Support advocacy for energy assistance during this important time of transition

Personal leadership and networking opportunities

Discounts to NEUAC events, free admission to LIHEAP Pre-Training Day with policy updates

ü  Make 5 phone calls to potential sponsors (see Katrina if you need contact cards for potential sponsors).

Talking points:

Free conference registrations

Free membership

Support advocacy for energy assistance during this important time of transition

Help NEUAC give voice to the voiceless, speaking for vulnerable and low-income families

Protect LIHEAP

 

The flyer with a fillable PDF is attached. Don’t forget — those who complete this challenge will be entered into a drawing for a room upgrade to a very nice suite at the conference. Now is the perfect time to reach out to people for all parts of the challenge!

 

Just some interesting social media stats…

NEUAC has seen tremendous increases in visibility since January. On Twitter alone, our impressions have grown from 5,022 in January to 74,600 in March. Page likes have increased exponentially on Facebook as well. Follow us on Twitter @theNEUAC and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/neuaccoalition/ — like, friend, and retweet NEUAC!

 

 

Calendar of Events

(all times are EST, all calls use NEUAC conference line (515) 739-1020, Code: 971971#)

To add your event or committee meeting, email kmetzler@neuac.org

 

April 5:             3 p.m.              PP&A Call

April 6:             1 p.m.              All-Chairs Call

April 12:          11 a.m.            Membership Committee Call

April 13:          2 p.m.              Executive Committee Call

April 19:          10 a.m.            NEUAC Regular Call with HHS Staff

                                                1-877-960-1642, password 4515770#

 

June 25-26:                            NEADA Annual Meeting

June 25:          12-5 p.m.        NEUAC Board Meeting

June 26-28:                            Annual Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL 

 

September 12:                        Planning Meeting in Phoenix, AZ

September 13:                        NEUAC Board Meeting in Phoenix, AZ